hello there
Today we walked and then walked some more...we planned our day over the delicious breakfast (...mostly western food). dan, much to her disappointment, actually ate yoghurt that was 2 days past its use by...i said you will be ok, your still breathing and will wake up alive tomorrow.
The area we walked around today is known as "Monserrat" in downtown Bs As. The architecture is heavily influenced by Europe due to the spanish finding this place in the early 1500´s.
We walked to the Plaza de Mayo (transalated as "May Square" for all you non hispanics), basically the main city town square. It was the historical scenery for the most important political changes. Also there is the first momument built, the Pyramid de Mayo (May pyramid) to commemorate the 1810 revolution. Government House and church called 'Catedral Metropolitana' with painted ceilings and walls, guarded in one section with footed soldiers ( a la UK) also surround the square.
From there we headed towards the Atlantic Ocean, where there is a docklands precinct, similar to melbournes southgate. It is one of 2 exclusive areas in Buenos Aires called Puerto Madero (the other is Recoleta). Puerto Madero is made up of a series of four large rectangular water areas, named Dique 1, Dique 2...4, surrounded by restaurants (yes they had "Hooters" - I insisted we should eat there as it would be a cultural experience for us both, but Dan was not convinced!), modern apartments and the Hilton Hotel (gorgeous, Paris has some cash). The docks also had a mariner, housing their version of melbournes "Polly Woodside" and many classy motor/sail boats. I think this used to be the old port, as the old shipping container cranes have been painted and placed arouind the docks, I thought they looked nice, dan thought otherwise.
We then went to one of the "posh" shopping centres Galleria Pacificos. Adam bought himself a 'Boca' futbol jumper (Argentinian team colours) to wear to the futbol tomorrow night. We are going to see the local teams Boca Juniors v Arsenal de Sarandi at the La Boca Staduim. I wouldn´t let Dan buy anything as it was all designer labels...just kidding, she was not interested because she would then have to carry it in her back pack. Oh, we saw this lady, posh of course, have a cat in her small white handbag...making her husband hold the bag while she was shopping...tried to get a photo, but missed.
From the shopping centre, we walked down one of the streets (similar to melbournes bourke st mall) closed off to cars, that housed many other fine shops, some food stalls and heaps of that bric and brac stuff (some people call it things, ads prefers to call it crap). It was so busy, full of people hustling and bustling.
Taking a right turn to get out of such a crowded street, the "Obelisco" tower presented itself. This is on the main Av. 9 De Julio. It is quite a tall tower (picture the one in washington - exactly the same). It is the centre of an intersection of 5 roads.
We also bought tickets to an authentic tango show for monday night...we surely could not leave BA without the tango experience.
Got to run...or should i say walk!
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